Vehicle-brake.



J. (En MILLER. VEHICLE BRAKE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 16, 1911.

Patented Feb. 27, 1912.

mam

J. G. MILLER. VEHICLE BRAKE.

APPLICATION TILED JAN. 16, 1911. 1 8,52?o

6 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

I (Xvi/z fflifffi inventor,

by W i V Afmmoys. E

Patented Feb. 27, 1912.

J. G. MILLER.

VEHICLE BB AKE.

APPLIOATION FILED JAN. 16, 1911 Patented Feb. 27, 1912.

G SHEBTSSHBET 3.

Witnesses 2% Att o rn ys,

J. G. MILLER.

VEHICLE BRAKE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.16, 1911.

Patented Feb. 27, 1912 J. G. MILLER.

VEHICLE BRAKE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.16,1911.

' Patented Feb; 27, 1912.

s SHEETS-SHEET 5.

1&18527,

Jam 6 1713%,

Inventor,

Attorneys- 5 J. G. MILLER. VEHICLE BRAKE.

V v APPLICATION FILED JAN. 16, 1911. 191,27.

Patented Feb.27,1912.

6 SHEETS-SH EET r V/ Attorneys eia-62a.

"some G- mnnnnyor BU'RLlIWGT-DN, Iowa.

; To d'llwhom it nwy'concem:

Be it "known that I, JOHN G. Mitten, a citizen of the United .States, residing at Burlington, in the county of Des Moines andSta-te of Iowa, ha-veinvented a new and useful -Vehicle-Brake, of whichthe following isa specification.

Itfis the object of this invention to provideja novel form-of brake, adapted to be suspended from the axle of "a. vehicle, to be lowered into contact with the ground, so as to lift the axle of the vehicle and the wheels thereon free from" the ground, a further .driving ofthe vehicle being thereby renderedimpossible. Another object of the inivention is to provide novel means whereby such a brake may be manipulated. With the foregoing'and other. objects in details of construction hereinafter described and claimed," it being understood that changes. in the precise embodiment ofinventi'on herein disclosed can be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

, In the drawings,--Figure 1 shows in side elevation, a vehicle equipped with one form .of'thefinvention, Fig. '2-is a rear elevation of a vehicle equipped with one form or the invention, the view depicting the parts in- "positions which they will assume after t-he brake has been brought into contact witlifthe ground, so as to lift the wheels elea-rtherefromg' Fig. 3 is avertical transverse'section' through a portion of the rear airie .(iff'the vehicle, parts being shown in elevation; Fig. 4 is a vertical section in the line" AB off-Fig 3, parts being, removed;

'Fig. a fragmental vertical section of the mechanism whereby the forward brake is assembled with'the' forward axle, parts be ing shown in elevation; Fig. 6 is a vertical transverse SBCiLlOIlUPOIllillQ line C-D or F 1g.

Fig. 7-is a detail perspective of one of the bracketiu'embers whereby the forward brake head is connected with the vehicle a sle 8 is a detail perspective of the stopmechanism, whereby the movement ofythe brake --'hlead iipon'theaxle is limited; Fig. Qis a. dc-

tail perspective of the'brake head and of the arm-whereby the brake-shoe is carried, parts being broken away; Fig. 10 is a side eieva tion, diagrammaticin'nature, and showing Specification oi Letters lat'eat.

VEHICLE-BRAKE.

Fatented Feb. 2'3, 31 912.:

Application filed January-1G, 1911. Serial No. 603,017.

the brake which is adjacent the front of the vehicle, is power-set from the rear, driving axle of the vehicle; Fig. 11 shows a portion of the device depicted in Fig. 10 and is a vertical transverse section taken. in the'line (ll-13 of Fig. 12, parts being broken away, and parts being shown in elevation; Fig. 12

shows a portion of the device depicted in Fig. l0 and is a. vertical transverse section in the line EF of Fig. .11; Fig. 13 is a vertical transverse section in the line G-H of Fig. 10, parts beingshown in elevation, the viewbeing designed to show the lever mechanism whereby the.brakes are actuated; Fig. l l' is aside elevation, diagrammatic in nature, and showing a modified means whereby the brakes may be set; Fig. 15 is a fragmental top plan of the structure depicted in Fig. 14:; Fig. 16 is a vertical transverse'section in the line I-J of Fig. 15,. parts being shown in elevation; Fig. 17

is a vertical section, taken longitudinallyof the vehicle, and showing the inner faces of certain of the sprocket wheels, the view being diagrammatic in nature, and having for its end, primarily, the showing of the broken pinions upon said sprocket wheels; Fig. 1 8 is a diagrammatic side elevation, showing a modified means for applying the brake, parts being broken away; Fig. 19 is a top plan of the structure shown in Fig. 18, parts being broken away and sectioned; Fig. 20 is a horizontalsection of the structure shown in Fig. 19; Fig. Ellis a diagrammatic side elevation, showing a modified means for applying the brake; Figs. 22 and 23 are diagrammatic side elevations showing modified means for mounting'the brake shoes 5 and Fig. 12 is a vertical section in a. plane slightly to the right of. the plane EF of Fig. 11.

The device forming the subject matter. of

t his application, is adapted to be employed in vehicles of any sort, but, in the drawings, in order to illustrate a concrete embodiment, and referring particularly to Fig. 1, the v vehicle has been delineated. in the form of a, motor propelled passenger car, the body whereof is denoted generally by the. numeral 1. The numeral 2 denotes generally, the frame of the vehicle, and the numeral the spring at the rear of the frame, the springs 3 carrying,.as seen. most clearly in Fig.

outer casings d: and inner casings 5, the inner casings uniting to form the box 6 in which the differential is commonly housed. It is in these casings l and 5, that the rear. axle 7, being power-driven, is journaled for rotation, the rear axle carrying the rear Wheels 8.

Noting particularly Fig. 6, the front axle of the vehicle is denoted by the numeral 9, the front axle carrying the movable axle ends 10. At this pointit may be stated that the showing ofthe front axle and of the movable ends thereof, is purely conventional, these details ordinarily varying with. the different makes of machines, the construction of the forward axle being of no particular consequei'ice in the present invention. The forward wheels of the vehicle, carried ,by the m'ovableends 10, are denoted by the numeral 11.

- Referring" to Figs. 3, l, 8 and 9 for a clearer understanding of the construction whereby the rear brakes areoperatively connected with the rear axle 7, it will'be seen that by means of keys 12, pinions 14 are secured to the rear axle 7 between the wheels 8 and the differential box 6. At this point it may be stated profitably that the rear axle includes duplicate brake mechanisms, but one of which will be described specifically, it being understood that this description will apply with equal propriety to both brake mechanisms. vEach pinion lel, then, is adapted to engage, but is'normally out of engagement with, a. rack 15, formed in the inner face of an annular head 16, the head 16 being provided with an outstanding flange 17, fitting rotatably about a bearing 18 formed upon the outer end of the outer casing 5. As Fig. 3 will serve to show, the center of this bearing 18'is' disposed out of the axis of the rear axle 7, the bearing, therefore, acting as an eccentric, upon which the annular head 16 may have a limited rotation, eccentrically with respect to the rear axle 7.

Referring particularly to Fig. 8, and comparing the same w th Figs. 3 and t, a stop 19 is shown, formed integrally with the peripheral portions of two parallel disks 2 these disks 20 having openings 21, whereby the disks may be mounted upon the rear casings 4 and 5. The openings 21 are eccentrically disposed in the disks 20, so that the relative positions of the disks 20 and the bearing 18 will be coincident. In the intrados of the annular head 16, a shoulder 22 is formed, the stop 19 being provided with resilient facing material 23, so as to lessen the shock when, as hereinafter described, the shoulder 22 in the annular brake head 16, comes into contact with the stop 19.

The casings 4 and 5 are formed at their meeting ends with beads 24, peripherally bolted together as at 25, or otherwise so cured. These heads 2t serve to house the actuating portions of the brake mechanism, and -they preferably serve as a means for maintaining the disks'20 and the stop 19 in fixed position. In order thus to position the stop 19 rigidly, bolts 26, or other securing elements adapted to a like end, may be extended through the side walls of the heads 24, to register in suitable openings 27 (Fig. 8) formed in the disks 20.

The brake head 16 is equipped with an outstanding two-part arm 28, carrying at its-outer end a segmental brake shoe Vthen, as shown in Fig. the arm 28 is disposed in substantially \horizontal position, the brake shoe 29 will be retracted within the periphery of the wheel 8, the brake shoe being ordinarily concealed by the rim of the wheel, and the component elements of the arm 28 being concealed by the spokes of the wheel, so that the brake will detract nothing from the general ap pearance of the vehicle.

It has been pointed out hereinbefore, that the brake head 16 is eccentrically suspended .with respect to the-rear axle 7, and therefore, when the brake arm 28 moves from the solid line position of Fig. l into the upright, dotted line position there shown. the brake shoe 29 will be projected beyond the periphery of the wheel 8'. When the brake shoe 29 is positioned as shown in dotted line in Fig. 4, the shoulder 22 in the annular brake head 16, engaging the stop 19, will hold the arm 28 of the brake in the position shown in dotted line in Fig. 4. Moreover, the cooperation between the shoulder 22 and the stop 19 is such that the point of contact between the brake shoe 29 and the ground, denoted specifically by the numeral 31 in Fig. 4, will be in advance of the center of the rear axle 7. By reason of this construction, as soon as the forward sliding ,movement of the vehicle upon the brake shoe 29 ceases, the vehicle will tiltrearwardly on the brake shoe 29, and into contact with the ground. This operation results from the proper positioning of the shoulder 22 and of the stop 19, and is entirely independent of the form given to the two-part arm 28 of the brake, which saidarm may be moditied as desired. Noting particularly Fig. 2, it will be seen that the lower faces of the brake shoes 29 may be roughened slightly, as shown at 30, to present an anti-slipping surface.

Noting; particularly Fig. 3, it will be seen that the flange 17 of the annular brake head 16 is equipped with a sprocket which is passed a sprocket chain trained over a wheel 34, mounted upona framecarried shaft 35, the wheel 3-l being rotatable by a lever 36, the movement of which may be limitedin the ordinary manner, by engagement with a segment- 37. In order 33, about nipulation of the lever 36, one of the heads 24, preferably the head which is formed upon the outer casing 1, is cut away, as denoted by the numeral 38 in Fig. 3, to permit the downward swinging of the arm; 28 of the brake, from the position shown in solid line in Fig. .4, into the position shown in dotted line therein.

The brake which is disposed adjacent the. forward end of the Vehicle, may be supported in any desir'edmanner. In order, however, to present a concrete embodiment, the forward brake mechanism is in the present instance mounted upon the forward axle 9, although this construction is by no means compulsory.

When the forward brake mechanism is carried by the forward axle 9, the brackets, seen most clearly in Fig. 7, are applied to the forward and rear faces of thefront axle. These brackets comprise bearing blocks 39 and 40, the adjacent faces of which may be notched, as shown at ll, in order to receive the forward axle 9 which is commonly an eye beam. The blocks. 39 and 40 are supplied with laterally projecting arms 12, having openings 43, adapted to'receive securing elements 44:, whereby the brackets may be connected with the forward axle 9. The construction of these brackets is identical, savingfor the fact that the. block 39 of one bracketis equipped with a radial projection 39, having the function attributed to the stop 19 of Fig. 8. The blocks 39 and are. eccentrically disposed with re-' spect to the forward aizle 9, as an inspection of Figs. 6 and 7 willfclearly show. I Mounted for rotation upon the bearing blocks 39 and 4-0, is a head 45, the construction of which is substantially the same as that of the head 16, Fig. 9 serving to illustrate the construction of both of the heads lei-and 16. T 1e head -it5 is shouldered, as

shown at 22 in connection with thehead 16, for engagementwvith the projection 39 1 of i the bearing block 39. 4

, The-head 15 is equipped with a rearwardly projecting, two-part arm 46, carrying a segmental shoe -17, the construction being similar to that described in connection with the rear brake mechanism, the shoe =17 being within the periphery of the wheel 11 when the two-part arm 4:6 is uplifted, the shoe, however, adiancing beyond the pemriphery of the wheel when the shoe is lowered, so as to lift the front wheel 11 oil? i the ground, as will be clearly understood.

The'fiange 4,8.of the head l?) defines a shoulder in the interior of the head, adapt- -ed to bear against one side of the bearing blocks 39 and 40. In order to preventthe brake head 45 from sliding in anopposite direction, an annular securing member 49 is attached to the outer face of the brake head'atii, the securing member being held in place by connecting elements 50, extended into the brake head 15, the securing member 49 overlapping the outer faces of the hearing blocks 39 and 40. Upon the flange -18 of the head 45, a sprocket 51 is fashioned, about which is passed a chain 52, trained about a wheel 53, carried by a frame-supported shaft- 54, the wheel 53 being manipulable by means of a lever 55,- adapted to engage a segment 56, as clearly shownv in Fig. 1. i

The operation of the device as thus far described, is as follows. Presupposing that it is desired to set the brake mechanism which is carried by the rear axle 7, if the upper end of the lever 36 be swung in the direction of the arrow H in Fig. 1, the chain 32 will rotate the annular brake head 16. upon its bearing 18, and by reason of the fact that this'bearing 18 is eccentric with respect to the rear axle 7 and the pinion 14,

the brake head 1-6 by the manipulation of the lever 36, will be lowered until the rack 15 upon the brake head meshes into the pinion 1 1-. Since the pinion 14 is held for rotation with therear axle "f, the engagement between" the rack 15 and the pinion-14 will serve to swing the arm 28 downwardly. bringing the brakeshoe 29 into contact with the ground, and lifting the rear wheels' 3 free from the ground. The rack 15, by the time that the arm 28 is positioned as shown in Fig. 4, will have passed out of nieshwith the pinion 14, so that the rearaxle 7 may continue to rotate under theaction of the engine, without propelling the vehicle for wardly, and without further influence upon the brake shoe 29, the engagement between the shoulder 22 of the brake head 16, and the stop 19, serving to maintain the braking mechanism in the position shown in dotted line in Fig. 4.

The operation last above described will take place when the vehicle is moving upon level ground, or down hill;v It not infrequently happens, however, that when a. vehicle is ascending the grade, some accident to the vehicle mechanism occurs, whereupon the vehicle starts to run down hill, backwardly. In. order to obviate this difficulty, the braking mechanism which is carried by the front axle 9 may be brought into operation. Under such circumstances, the mech anism is manipulated as follows. By moving the upper end of the lever 55 in the di- 'rection of the arrow 1 in Fig. l, the wheel wheel over the .surfaceof the ground.

55 united.

60 'secured to the axle 57.

position, whereupon the brake shoe 4&7, riding over the surface of the ground, will bring the vehicle quickly to a stop. At this point it may be stated that although one '5, end only of the forward axle 9 is shown, it-

1s to be understood 15 so thatthe wheels 8 are lifted free from the ground, thereby rendering the power driven wheels 8 inetlicient to propel the vehicle forwardly. Likewise, when the braking mechanism at the forward end of the vehicleis 2O applied, the forward wheels 11 will be lifted.

clear of the ground.

It is to be noted that when either of the braking mechanisms are applied, the skid ding takes place entirely upon the brake 5 shoes 29 and 47, and not upon the tires which the wheels carry. This fact is important for two reasons. In the first place. the wheels are protected fromthe wearincident to the sliding of a'locked, non-rotatable In the second place, by reason of the fact that the device herein disclosed subjects the tires to no severe usage when .the braking mechanism is applied. the occupant of the vehicle 'will not hesitate to apply the brake, upon -the slightest occasion for its use, itfrequently happening that. through fear of wear and tear upon the tires, the application of the braking mechanism of the ordinary 40' construction, is delayed until, when at last the brakes are applied, the inuiending acci dent cannot be averted. 7

Referring to Figs. 10, 11, 12, 12 and 13,

a modified form of the invention is shown.

.45 wherein the power driven rear axle 57 is made efficient as a means for setting the forward brake shoe, it being recalled that in that form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 7. the forward brake shoe is applied manually.

In Figs. 10, 11. 12, 12 and 13; the rear axle 57 is surrounded by casings 58 and 58, equipped with cooperating heads 59, peripherally bolted together as at 60, or otherwise Theannular brake head 61 is provided in its interior withv a rack 62, normally out of engagement with, but adapted to engage, a pinion 68. formed integrally with a parallel pinion 6 5', both of which are The annular brake head 61 is rotatably mounted upon a hearing 64, formed in head of the casing the bearing 61 being eccentrically disposed with respect to 65 the rear axle 57. In the intrados of the anthe inner face of the nular head 61, there is formed a shoulder 65 adapted to come in contact. with a stop 65, carried by disks 66, through which the shaft- 57 is inserted, the construction being the same as that shown in Fig. 8. The disks 66- are held against rotation by means of bolts 67, extended through the heads 59. The brake head 61 is equipped witha twopart arm 68, car'ryinga brake-shoe 69, the operation of the brake shoe- 69 with respect to the stop 65 being the same as that described in connection with the preceding form of the invention. Another annular head 70, similar in construction to the head 1 61. and equipped with a fragmental rack 62 adapted to mesh into the pinion 63', 1s mountedupon an eccentric bearing 71 formed in the head 59 of the casing- 58. This annular head 61 is equipped with a sprocket flange. 73, about which is extended the sprocket chain 4 trained about the sprocket wheel 75, carried by a shaft 76. rotatably mounted within. a tubular shaft 77, the latter being frame-supported. For the manipulation of the shaft 76, a lever 78 is provided, the same being equipped with suitable latch mechanism 79, adapted to interlock with the frame-carried segment 80. A chain 81 is pas ed about the sprocket flange 81' of the annular head 70, the chain 81 being trained around the sprocket wheel 82 secured to the tubular shaft 7.7. The shaft 77 is manipulable by means of a lever 88, constructed similarly to the lever 78. Secured to the tubular shaft 77 between the sprocket wheels 7 5 and 82, isan intermediate sprocket wheel 84, about which is passed a chain 85, the chain 85 being trained around the sprocket 51 of the forward brake, mechanism (see 6), 'itbeing understood, without. specific illustration, that the forward brake mechanism shown in Figs. 5 and 6 is employed in that form of the invention which is shown in Fig. 10.

The operation of the device as shown in Figs. 10, 11, 12, 12 and 18, is as follows. Let it be supposed that his desired to set the rear brake mechanism alone. Under such circumstances, the lever 78 is manipulated. actuating the chain 74 and rotating the brake head 61 upon its eccentric bearing 6% to bring the rack 62 into mesh with the pinion 68, whereupon, when the rear axle 57 is actuated. after the manner of the device shown in Fig. 1, the rear brake will be set. When it is desired to set the forward brake mechanism, the lever 88 is manipulated, the chain 81 actuating the annular head 70 until its rack. corresponding to the rack 62 of Fig. 12, is brought into mesh with the rotating pinion 63. The head 70 will thus be rotated. the chain 81 causing a rotation of the sprocket wheel 82 and of the intermediate sprocket 84, the latter sprocket, through its chain 85, actuating positively,

roisieav the forward brake mechanism, the initial 'movement of which will have taken place 7 a-Xle 57. Let it be supposed that the vehicle is runningwwild,backwardly, down-hill, the

axle 57 having arearward rotation. Note Fig.12 and-observe that when the forward brake member 47 is uplifted, as shown in Fig. 10, the rack 62' of the annular head 7 O standsspaced from, and to the front of, the

pinion 63.

In order to bring the rack 62 of the brake head 61 into engagement with the'pin'ion 63, thereby effecting a lowering ofthe rear brake shoe, the brake head61 must be rotated forwardly; while, to bring the rack 62 of the brake head 7 0 into engagement with the pinion 63, the head 7 0 must he rotatedrearwardly. Sinccthe brake heads 70 and 61 must be rotated in opposite directions, the chain 81 must be crossed, if the levers 78 and 83 are to be moved in a common direction, to effect the braking operation. Noting in Fig. 10, that the rotatable element carrying the forward brake shoe 47,

- mustbe rotated in an opposite direction from'the rotatable'element carrying the rear brake shoes 69, it will be obvious that the chain; 85 must be crossed.

From the foregoing it will be seen that 8 either the forward brake mechanism or the rear brake mechanism, may be set independently of the other, from the power driven rear axle 57.

In Figs; 14, 15, 16 and 17 a modified form of the invention has been shown. In this form, the forward and rearward brakes may be set positively from the engine shaft. In this form of the invention, the brake mechanismgfor the rear axle is the same as that shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the brake mechanismfor the forward axle being the same as .that shown inFig. 6. A specific description of these two brake mechanisms, and oftheir operation, is unnecessary, since the same will be readily understood from the descrlption ofthe operation of the structures shown in the figures above mentioned. In this form of the invention, spaced shafts 86 and 87 are journa'led for rotation upon the vehicle frame, transversely of the same, the shafts, if desired,being mounted in a common bearing 88 with the engine shaft 89 which extends longitudinally of I the vehicle. A sprocket wheel 90 is secured to the shaft 86 at one side of the vehicle, and about the sprocket wheel 90 is trained a chain 91, eX-.

tending rearwardly to actuate-the rear brake mechanism hereinbefore described. A similar sprocket wheel 92 is securedto the shaft 87, and about the wheel is passed a chain extended forwardly, to actuate the forward brake mechanism upon one side of the vehicle. To the shaft 86, a sprocket wheel 945 is secured, a chain 95 being extended around the sprocket wheel 94;, and passed [rearwardly, to actuate the rear brake mechanism, upon the opposite side] oftheivehicle from the mechanism which lis actu'a'ted by the chain 91. To the shaft 87, a sprocket wheel 96 is'secured, a chain 97 'being'passed about the sprocket wheel 96 and carried fonwardly, the chain 97 coiiperatingwith j'the chain 93 in actuating the forwardbrake "mechanism upon both sides of the vehiclel The sprocketwheels 90 and 92areequipped with beveled faces 98, the beveled faces'icarrying broken gears 99, the extent of which may be dictated by the taste vof the manu facturer. Secured to the engine shaft 89, for rotation therewith, are beveled pinions 101, adapted to be engaged under circumstances to be pointed out hereinafter, .by the broken gears 99 of the sprocket wheels 9 and 92. Theshaft 86 is actuated by a lever 102, and the shaft 87 is actuated by a lever 103. s

The operation of the device as. shown in Figs. 14:, 15, 16 and 1.7 is-as follows When it is desired to set the rear brake mechanism, the lever 102 may be manipulated, rotating the sprocket wheel 90, until its'broken gear 99 is brought into engagement with the adjacent beveled pinion 101. Under such circumstances, the engine shaft 89, rotating said beveled pinion 101, will give a partial rotation to the sprocket wheel 90, which rotation will be communicated by the shaft 86, to the sprocket wheels 90, 94, both of the chains 91 and 95 being actuate'd, to.set the rear brake mechanism. \Vhen it'is desired to set the. forward brake mechanism, the lever 103 is manipulated, rotating the sprocket wheel 92,. until its broken gear 99 meshes into the other beveled pinion 101', whereupon the chains 93, and 97 will beact-uated, thereby to set the forwardbrake vmechanism of the vehicle.

In Figs. 18, 19 and 20,21 further modifi; cation in the means for applying the brakes, is shown. Referringto Figs. 18," 1"9"ffand 20, the engine shaft 104: carries a rigidly supported frame 105 carryingha' slidably mounted block 105,pr6\ fid cd with,. anout standing shaft 106, carrying an upright pinion 107, out of engagementwith, but adapted to mesh into, a pinion 108 secured to the engine shaft 104. A connecting rod 109 unites the pinion 107 with a crankarm 110, secured to a frame-supported; shaft 111, carrying a sprocket whee l 112, about which is passed a chain" 114:,l'eadingto the rear brake mechanism; The pivot element 115 whereby the "connecting rod' 109 is united with the crank 110, serves as a mounting for a forwardly extended link 116, pivotally connected as sho'wnat 117, to a block 118, slidable in the block 105 longitudinally of the same, the sliding movement of the block 118 being limited, by a a compression spring 119, the forward end of whichbears against the block 105, the rear end of the spring bearing against the block 118. Outstanding from the block 118, is a pin 120, adapted to register in a slot 121, in an upright lever 122, fulcrumed at123 upon suitable projections 124 from the vehicle frame.

The operation of the device as shown in Figs. 18, 19 and 20 is as follows. hen the parts are disposed as shown in Fig. 18, the pinion 108 upon the engine shaft 104, is out of mesh with the pinion 107 which is carried by the slidably mounted block 105. If, however, the upper end of the lever .122 be swung forwardly, the block 105 will be advanced in the block 105, until the pinion 107 meshes into the pinion 108. The pinion 108 being rotated by the engine shaft 101, will impart a rotation to the pinion 107, the con- .necting rod 109 tilting the crank arm 115,

and rotating the shaft 111, the sprocket wheel 112 advancing the chain 114:, to set the rear brake mechanism, it of course being understood that the rear brake mechanism is of the form shown in Figs. 3 and 4E. and previously described. The rotation of the shaft 111, will through the instrumentality of the rod 109 and the link 116, retract the block 105, drawing the pinion 107 out of mesh with the pinion 108. Throughout the foregoing description, belts and pulleys have been employed for setting the several brake mechanisms, but this construction need not be adhered to rigidly. For instance, as shown in Fig. 21, the rear axle 125, operatively carrying the bearing 126, corresponding to the bearing 18, and likewise carrying the brake head 127, corresponding to the brake head 16, may be employed for actuating the shoe 128 at the end of the arm 129, the head 127 being actuated through the instrumentality of a connecting rod 130, pivoted as shown at 131 to the brake head 127, the connecting rod 130 being pivoted to a lever 132. adapted to engage with a segment 133, the lever and the segment being supported upon the vehicle frame. upon the vehicle body or other desired manner.

Reviewing the several forms of the invention shown. itwill be seen that the occupant of a vehicle, by the simple starting of a lever, may'set a brake mechanism which will not only lift the wheels of the vehicle free from the ground, so that the wheels will no longer impel the vehicle, but, as well, serve to prevent any damage upon the in any Having thus described the invention what is claimed is z- 1. In a device of the class described, a rotatable vehicle axle; a brake arm pivotally supported upon the axle for rotation thereon, with the axle as an approximate center; elements upon the axle and upon the arm, normally out of engagement and adapted to co-act to swing the arm about the axle as an approximate center, thereby to drive the arm positively into a depending position to engage the road-way; a traction wheel upon the axle and independent of said elements; and means for maintaining the arm uplifted to hold said elements out of engagement.

2. In a device of the class described, a rotatable vehicle axle; a pinion secured to the axle; a brake arm pivotally supported by the axle and havinga curved rack, eccentric to the pinion and adapted to engage the pinion, but normally out of engagement with the pinion, the co-action between the rack and the pinion serving to lower the arm into depending position to engage the roadway;

and means for maintaining the arm uplifted, to hold the rack and pinion out of engageient. 3. In a device of the class described, a driven vehicle axle; a pinion secured thereto; a brake arm pivotally supported upon the axle and inclosing the pinion, the brake arm being provided with a rigid rack adapted to engage the pinion to depress the brake arm to engage the roadway; means for maintaining the arm uplifted, to hold the rack and the pinion out of engagement; and a fixed stop supported by the vehicle axle, there being a shoulder in the brake arm adapted to engage the stop to maintain the brake arm at an angle to the roadway, when the brake arm is in engagement with the roadway.

, 4. In a device of the class described, a driven vehicle axle; an eccentric supported by the axle; a brake shoe pivotally mounted upon the eccentric. and housed at its free end behind the vehicle wheel when the arm is elevated. the eccentric constituting a means for projecting the free end of the 'arm beyond the periphery of the wheel when the arm is lowered; a pinion secured to theves hicle axle; a rack carried by the brake arm and normally out of engagement with the pinion, the rack and the pinion co-acti'ng to drive the brake arm positively into depending position; and means for raising the brake arm.

5. The combination with the front and rear axles of a vehicle, of earth-engaging brake arms pivotally carried thereby; interengaging elements upon the arms and the axles to drive the arms into earth-engaging positions; separate devices for maintaining the interengaging elements out of engagement, and for bringing the interenga'ging elements into engagement; and a shaft op eratively connected with one axle and with both of said devices.

hit

6. The combination with the front and rear axles of 'a vehicle, of earth-engaging brake arms carried thereby; interengaging elements upon the arms and upon the axles, to drive the arms into earth-engaging positions; separate devices, individually under the control of the operator, for maintaining the interengaging elements out of engagement, and for bringing the interengaging elements into engagement; an engine shaft operatively connected with one axle to drive the same; and co-acting means upon the engine shaft and upon both of said devices, whereby the engine shaft may constitute a power driven member adapted to bring either of said elements into engagement.-

7. In a device of the class described, a

power driven rear axle; a brake arm pivoted thereto; elements upon the axle and rigid upon the arm, normally out of engagement and adapted to co-act when the axle is rotated, toswing the arm positively into depending position to engage the roadway with the axle as an approximate center of swinging movement; means for maintaining the arm uplifted to hold said elements out of engagement; and a traction wheel upon-the axle.

.8. The combination wit-h the front .and

rear axles of a vehicle, of earth-engaging brake arms carried thereby; interengaging elements upon the arms and upon the. axles to drive the arms into earth-engaging positions; an engine shaft operatively connected with one. axle; spaced shafts journaled for rotation transversely of the engine shaft; a set of pinions upon the engine shaft; a set of pinions upon the transverse shafts, one of "which sets is continuously toothed, the other tt iii which sets is but partially toothed, to engage with the teeth of the other set; means for connecting each of the pinions of the transverse shafts with one set of interengaging elements, to bring said elements into engagement; and means for operating each of the transverse shafts separately, and independently of the engine shaft.

9. The combination with a rotatable vehicle axle, of a fixed casing thereon, provided with an eccentric portion; a brake arm having a head located within the casing and mounted for rotation upon said eccentric portion, the head being provided with a rack; a pinion secured to the vehicle axle within the contour of the head; and means for manipulating the arm to bring the rack into engagement with the pinion; whereby the pinion will effect a positivedriving of the brake arm into engagement with the ground. I

10. The combination with a rotatable vehicle axle, of a fixed casing thereon, pro vided with an eccentric portion; a' brake.

having a head located within the casing and rotatable upon said eccentric portion, the head being provided with a rack; a pinion fixed upon the axle and located within thehead, the pinion being normally out-of engagement with "the rack, but being adapted to interengage with thesame when the brake is moved upon said eccentricportion; and a fixed stop carried by the casing,there being a shoulder upon the brake head, adapted to'interengage with the stop, to maintain the arm in earth-engaging position.

1.1. The-combination with a vehicle axle, of an earth -engaging 'brakearm carried thereby: interengaging elements upon the axle and upon the arm, to swing the arm into earth-engaging position; an engine shaft operatively connected with the axle; a

shaft journ'aled transversely of the engine shaft; intermeshing pinions upon the transverse shaft and upon the engine shaft, one of said pinions being but partially toothed; means for operating the transverse shaft; and means for operatively connecting the transverse shaft with'the interengaging elements;

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN G. MILLER.

Witnesses:

J. T. ILLICK, DALL R. ANDRE. 

